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Brakes & Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
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02-04-2018, 08:24 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 478656
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Recommend new struts for 04 sti
I have a 2004 forester xt I bought it new it’s the wife’s car. She now wants me to start modding it 14 years later because she refuses to get rid of it.she tells me if the motor pops we will just buy a new motor lol. So I need to know what new struts would a suspension guru recommend . I want wrx sti version so the forester would sit lower and have a better ride than coilovers . Trying not to spend a fortune on this part she will never track it but she wants lower and she also wants wider wheels 8.5 or 9 without rubbing . I need some help here with this part.
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02-04-2018, 08:39 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 272090
Join Date: Jan 2011
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Vehicle:2006 Subaru Forester SGM |
Get wrx wagon suspension
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02-04-2018, 08:53 PM | #3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71875
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Montana
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That forester does use the wider sedan control arms and lateral links and the sti-style rear swaybar and endlinks, so you don't really need wagon specific struts (of which there are few options).
To bring a forester to impreza height and have the suspension work properly you should take out the spacers between the suspension crossmembers and chassis. To do that, you need new shorter bolts, an impreza steering linkage, and I think new trailing arm mounting brackets. Tokico d-specs are the best deal right now for struts. While they last. You could pair them with stock sti springs, might need a small spacer on the rear tops to keep the ride height even. |
02-04-2018, 09:56 PM | #4 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 478656
Join Date: Dec 2017
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02-07-2018, 07:03 AM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 402536
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: North East Ohio
Vehicle:2004 wrx wagon Red |
STI struts and stock springs should lower approx. 2" Then you could use lowering springs if you want to go farther and don't rub.
On my 04 wagon I want to go up. I'm tired Of the lowered stance as I get older. So I'm looking at the forester strut swap. The complete opposite of what your doing. |
02-09-2018, 06:55 PM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 462296
Join Date: Feb 2017
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Riverside, CA
Vehicle:2003 Lexus IS300 2JZ 620HP/595TQ |
So we have gotten a ton of great reviews on the Feal Fixed Perch Struts if you care to take a look:
http://fealsuspensionstore.com/wrx-sti-struts#FPS-1 Turn In was even nice enough to start a thread about them a while back: https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...d+perch+struts So the 2004 STI FPS kit is a 5x100 and will work with many of the older cars including the GC Impreza, GD/GG Impreza/WRX, SG Forester and SF Forester. You would retain your OE top hats the only necessary change would be that you need OE or OE replacement (Swift, RCE, etc.) 04-07 STI springs. We even installed a set on our 97 Forester shop car before we sold it. |
02-09-2018, 10:28 PM | #7 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71875
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Montana
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The forester struts are longer and the springs are taller so installing any struts and springs or coilovers meant for the impreza/wrx will put you at impreza height. BUT, your control arms and axles do not want to be at that height because of the spacers between the crossmembers and chassis. So to do it right you need to take that stuff out.
Last edited by jamal; 02-09-2018 at 10:33 PM. |
02-10-2018, 12:24 AM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 10228
Join Date: Sep 2001
Vehicle:2002 Subaru WRX |
Recommend new struts for 04 sti
You don't want wrx struts and lowering springs on an fxt. It's too low, slammed is what the kids call it...
Drop koni inserts into your fxt bodies and use the Mann Engineering Swift lowering springs for the FXT. Perfect 1.5" drop. Using anything else for a wrx will net you a drop 2+" close to 3" if using really low drop springs. |
02-10-2018, 12:06 PM | #9 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71875
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Montana
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This is a friend's FXT with wrx struts (with konis) and sti springs for reference:
He did remove all the subframe spacers. |
02-15-2018, 11:35 AM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 10228
Join Date: Sep 2001
Vehicle:2002 Subaru WRX |
FXT struts with Koni inserts and Swift FXT lowering springs (Subframe spacers remain) Overall drop was about 1.5" vs 2.5+" when doing the WRX /STI struts + lowering springs.
https://imgur.com/a/gfN9l https://imgur.com/a/of7U6 |
02-15-2018, 01:42 PM | #11 | |
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Member#: 13530
Join Date: Dec 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Cascadia
Vehicle:EA63 , EA81T, EJ20G, EJ205 |
Quote:
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02-16-2018, 12:42 AM | #12 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 10228
Join Date: Sep 2001
Vehicle:2002 Subaru WRX |
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02-16-2018, 11:23 AM | #13 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 13530
Join Date: Dec 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Cascadia
Vehicle:EA63 , EA81T, EJ20G, EJ205 |
Quote:
If FEAL took their STI struts and built them in the stock SG Forester dimensions (or raise the spring perch another inch and lengthen the strut by that much as well) they'd have a REAL winner. There are a TON more Forester owners out there than STI owners. Also, the King springs will also eat almost an inch of droop travel, so that's not really a good solution. |
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11-12-2021, 10:41 AM | #14 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 527336
Join Date: Nov 2021
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Quote:
Just picked up an 04 FXT with some simple mods already installed. I want to take it further and I'm looking to "slam" the car using STI parts, it came with STI springs installed on stock struts so I've got the springs, I just need help wrapping my head around the whole spacers and steering rack bit. I'm unearthing an old subject simply because I can't find any support (yes I already used search) on this subject. Does anyone know of a writeup, thread link, or point me in a search direction cuz I'm not seeing it!? Thanks all!!! |
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11-12-2021, 12:01 PM | #15 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 107618
Join Date: Feb 2006
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NY
Vehicle:06 GG WRX / 09 FXT @florencedestinedfxt |
You'll have better luck over on the subaruforester.org forum just based on the car you have.
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11-12-2021, 12:34 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 527336
Join Date: Nov 2021
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